What's the difference on Psychology and Psychiatry as words; and as professions.
2007-01-19 19:19:01 · 16 answers · asked by Learning Eagle 1 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
Psychology is an academic and applied discipline involving the scientific study of mental processes and behavior. Psychology also refers to the application of such knowledge to various spheres of human activity, including problems of individuals' daily lives and the treatment of mental illness.
Psychiatry is a medical specialty dealing with the prevention, assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of mental illness. Its primary goal is the relief of mental suffering associated with disorder and improvement of mental well-being. This may be based in hospitals or in the community and patients may be voluntary or involuntary. Psychiatry adopts a medical approach but may take in to account biological, psychological, and social/cultural perspectives. Treatment by medication or, less often, various forms of psychotherapy may be undertaken. The word 'psychiatry' derives from the Greek for "healer of the spirit".
Most psychiatric illnesses cannot currently be cured, although recovery may occur. While some have short time courses and only minor symptoms, many are chronic conditions which can have a significant impact on a patients' quality of life and even life expectancy, and as such may be thought to require long-term or life-long treatment. Effectiveness of treatment for any given condition is also variable from individual to individual.
2007-01-19 19:32:01 · answer #1 · answered by Rainbow 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
In theory, Psychiatry is treatment and Psychology is study of human behavior. In the US and presumably in Canada, Psychiatry requires MORE schooling because a Psychiatrist is a doctor and can prescribe medicines. Psychology is a major at the BS, MS, and PhD level and a Psychologist may have additional training that allows treatment, testing, counseling, teaching, etc., as well as research.
2016-03-29 05:53:14 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Psychiatrists are medical doctors, and can prescribe drugs to treat disorders. This is good with things that have a clear neurological basis, but they sometimes get the diagnosis very wrong, as well as the fact that in cases of things like anxiety and depression, drugs treat the symptoms without getting to the root of the problem. A pill is not always a quick-fix.
Psychologists are more like counsellors, using more talk-therapy and exploration of the root causes of the problem.
Psychoanalysts on the other hand use the Freudian method, the classic couch-scenario of finding the root causes in your childhood, etc. Psychoanalysis is usually very time-intense and expensive; people are often in psychoanalysis for the major part of their lives.
Of the three I am most convinced by psychologists.
2007-01-19 23:44:14 · answer #3 · answered by anna 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Psychology is a bit of a nebulous field - anyone can call themselves a psychologist, really, and come up with all kinds of ridiculous theories about human behaviour. Psychiatry is a medical profession, and while it too can come up with a lot of nonsense theories, it focuses more on the physiological aspects of mental illness (eg how the brain functions and how medicines interact with the brain) which can have more practical results.
2007-01-20 00:15:43 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
psychology is the study of the mind, behaviour and emotions.
psychiatry is about mental health and mental illness.
Psychiatrsits are qualified as doctors, then take further training in psychiatry through study and internship.
Psychologists are graduates and become chartered as a professional e.g. as educational psychologist or clinical psychologist.
2007-01-19 21:08:09 · answer #5 · answered by kenjinuk 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Psychology: deals with knowing the mind and behavior
Psychiatry: uses psychology for treatment
2007-01-19 19:50:05 · answer #6 · answered by Loiterer 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
pschology is behavior-oriented. psychiatry is that too, plus it is concerned with biological/physiological causes .
2007-01-19 19:30:31 · answer #7 · answered by mickey 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One uses a parker pen and the other uses a biro and both wonder why each one chose that particular use of writing implement,,are there deeper issues here,,are you having any sexual problems
2007-01-21 18:44:12 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It seems to me that psychology engages one in forming a question that asks "why?" whereas psychiatry engages one in finding the answer to "why?".
And psychiatrists can dispense meds, too.
2007-01-19 19:27:55 · answer #9 · answered by Kara 1 · 0⤊ 5⤋
Psychiatrists can prescribe medicine and psychologists cannot.
2007-01-19 19:22:27 · answer #10 · answered by alwaysmoose 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋